Passive-aggressive personality disorder is a
personality disorder whereby someone displays a pattern of negative attitudes
and passive resistance in interpersonal or occupational situations. Sometimes
a method of dealing with stress or frustration, it results in the person
attacking other people in subtle, indirect, and seemingly passive ways. It
can manifest itself as resentment, stubbornness, procrastination, sullenness,
or intentional failure at doing requested tasks. For example, someone who
is passive-aggressive might take so long to get ready for a party they don't
wish to attend that the party is nearly over by the time they arrive.

Someone who is passive-aggressive will typically
not confront others directly about problems, but instead will attempt to
undermine their confidence or their success through comments and actions
which, if challenged, can be explained away innocently so as not to place
blame on the passive-aggressive person.

Passive-aggressive disorder may be a result
of society's conditioning of individuals; direct confrontation can lead to
harmful consequences. For example, confronting one's manager may lead to
the loss of opportunities, such as being passed over for a promotion or even
losing one's job. The term "passive-aggressive" arose in the U.S. military
during World War II, when officers noted that some soldiers shirked duties
by adopting passive-aggressive type behaviors. What looks like a personality
disorder to an officer may be a perfectly rational survival strategy for
a grunt on the front line.

Often passive-aggressive behavior manifests itself
in individuals who view themselves as "peaceful". These individuals feel
that expressing their anger through passive-aggressive behavior is morally
favorable to direct confrontation.

The lack of repercussions resulting from
passive-aggressive behavior ultimately leads to an unchecked continual attack,
albeit passive, on one's acquaintances.